Zoomark Bologna
Published on
16/01/17
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EPO Participates in the EU High-Level Conference Celebrating 10 Years of the EU Animal Health Law
The conference marked the publication of the European Commission's evaluation of the Animal Health Law and unveiled 11 priority actions to further strengthen its implementation across the European Union. On July 8th, 2026, EPO participated in the European Commission conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EU Animal Health Law (AHL). Bringing together around 130 representatives from EU institutions, Member States, veterinary authorities, academia and stakeholder organisations, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on a decade of achievements while discussing the future direction of EU animal health policy. A Decade of Progress under the Animal Health Law The conference was officially opened by Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, who highlighted the strategic importance of animal health in safeguarding public health, strengthening food security and supporting the resilience of Europe's animal sectors through a strong One Health approach. A key milestone of the event was the presentation of the European Commission's evaluation of the Animal Health Law, carried out under the Better Regulation Initiative. The evaluation concluded that the legislation remains fit for purpose, while identifying opportunities to further strengthen its implementation and ensure it continues to respond effectively to emerging challenges. Looking Ahead: 11 Priority Actions Building on the evaluation, the European Commission presented 11 priority actions that will guide the next phase of implementation of the Animal Health Law. These actions are grouped under three strategic pillars: Administrative improvements to simplify procedures and enhance harmonisation across Member States; Veterinary priorities, including stronger disease prevention, preparedness, biosecurity and vaccination; Cross-cutting actions to reinforce the One Health approach, strengthen animal welfare and improve cooperation between competent authorities and stakeholders. Throughout the conference, speakers consistently emphasised the importance of science-based policymaking, effective implementation and close collaboration among public authorities, veterinarians, researchers and stakeholders. These principles were recognised as essential to ensuring that the Animal Health Law continues to protect animal health, public health and the sustainability of Europe's animal sectors. EPO Looks Forward to Continued Collaboration As the voice of the pet sector at European level, EPO welcomes the European Commission's continued commitment to strengthening the Animal Health Law and ensuring that its implementation remains practical, proportionate and effective. EPO would like to sincerely thank the European Commission Animal Health team for organising such an insightful and well-structured conference. The event successfully celebrated ten years of progress while setting a clear roadmap for the years ahead. EPO looks forward to continuing its close collaboration with the European Commission and all relevant stakeholders to support the successful implementation of the Animal Health Law and to ensure that the expertise and specific realities of the European pet sector continue to be recognised in the development of future EU animal health policies.
10/07/26
EPO contributes to the European Commission's discussion on implementing the new EU rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats
The European Pet Organization (EPO) was pleased to contribute, at the invitation of the European Commission, to the panel discussion dedicated to the implementation of the upcoming EU Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, held during the 19th meeting of the EU Platform on Animal Welfare. As a member of the EU Platform on Animal Welfare, EPO welcomed the opportunity to share its practical expertise and contribute to the discussion on the successful implementation of this landmark legislation. The session brought together representatives of the European Commission, veterinary organisations, breeders, animal welfare organisations, the pet sector and other key stakeholders to exchange views on the practical challenges and opportunities associated with implementing the new Regulation. Representing EPO, Secretary General Nathalie Gamain reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to supporting the implementation of the new legislation. "The adoption of the Regulation marks a significant step forward for animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, consumer protection and the fight against illegal trade. The next challenge is to ensure that the legislation is implemented consistently and effectively across all Member States," she stressed during the discussion. Successful implementation will require cooperation During her intervention, Nathalie Gamain emphasised that the success of the Regulation will depend on close cooperation between competent authorities, veterinarians, breeders, shelters, pet shops, online marketplaces, animal welfare organisations and pet owners. EPO highlighted six key priorities for successful implementation: Harmonised implementation across all Member States; Practical and proportionate implementing and delegated acts; Interoperable identification and registration systems; Effective, risk-based enforcement targeting irresponsible operators while supporting compliant businesses; Economically feasible implementation that encourages compliance; and Continued dialogue between the European Commission and stakeholders throughout the implementation process. EPO also underlined the important role that its members can play throughout the implementation phase by providing technical expertise and practical experience during the development of the delegated and implementing acts, while helping translate the new legal requirements into practical and workable solutions for operators across Europe. Continuing to support implementation As the voice of the pet sector at European level, EPO remains committed to working constructively with the European authorities and all relevant stakeholders to support the effective implementation of the Regulation. Through its extensive network of national associations and sector experts, EPO will continue to provide practical expertise, facilitate dialogue with operators, contribute to implementation guidance, and share feedback from the sector to help ensure that the new rules achieve their objectives of improving animal welfare, strengthening traceability, combating illegal trade, and creating a level playing field for responsible operators across Europe. EPO looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with the EU authorities throughout the implementation phase of this important legislation.
29/06/26
EPO at Interzoo 2026: Watch the "Meet the Experts" Interview
EPO is pleased to share the recording of the Meet the Experts interview held during Interzoo 2026, featuring EPO President Svein Fossa and Secretary General Nathalie Gamain. The interview provides an overview of EPO's mission as the voice of the pet sector at European level, and highlights the organisation's work in representing its members before the European institutions. It also explores the current legislative and policy developments affecting the sector, including the implementation of the new EU Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, as well as the opportunities and challenges ahead for pet businesses across Europe. The discussion underlines the importance of constructive dialogue between policymakers and the pet sector to ensure that European legislation is both effective and practical for all stakeholders. 🎥 Watch the full interview here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMF05QWj0mk EPO would like to thank Antje Schreiber, ZZF Head of Communications and Education, and more generally ZZF for the opportunity to participate in the Meet the Experts series and for providing a platform to present the work and priorities of the European pet sector.
25/06/26
EPO Contributes to European Parliament Discussion on the Implementation of the New EU Rules on the Welfare & Traceability of Dogs and Cats
On June 3rd, 2026, EPO, as the voice of the pet sector at European level, contributed to a high-level event held at the European Parliament under the umbrella of the MEP Group on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development entitled “The New EU Rules on the Welfare and Traceability of Dogs and Cats – Delivering Effective Implementation.” Hosted by MEP Manuela Ripa, Rapporteur for the European Parliament's ENVI Committee on this file, the event brought together policymakers, European Commission representatives, veterinarians, breeders, animal welfare organisations and pet sector stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the newly adopted EU Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats. The event attracted a full house and strong engagement from participants, including four Members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum: MEP Manuela Ripa (EPP, Germany), MEP Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg), MEP Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe, Lithuania) and MEP Carola Everding (The Left, Germany), alongside policy advisers from several political groups involved in the legislative process. As the voice of the pet sector at European level, EPO welcomed the opportunity to contribute to discussions on this landmark legislation and its implementation. During his intervention, EPO President Svein A. Fosså highlighted EPO's constructive engagement throughout the legislative process and its support for a harmonised framework that strengthens animal welfare, improves traceability and helps combat illegal trade while remaining practical, proportionate and enforceable. A key focus of the event was the transition from legislation to implementation. Speakers and participants emphasised that the success of the new rules will depend on close cooperation between EU institutions, Member States and stakeholders. In this context, EPO underlined the important contribution that the pet sector can make by providing practical expertise and real-world experience to support the effective implementation of the Regulation. The event also provided an important opportunity to further raise the profile of the pet sector within the European Parliament and among EU decision-makers. The strong level of participation demonstrated the growing recognition of the role that responsible pet sector stakeholders can play in supporting the objectives of the Regulation, including improved animal welfare, enhanced traceability, greater consumer confidence and the fight against illegal trade. As attention now turns to the development of the delegated and implementing acts that will shape the practical application of the Regulation, EPO looks forward to continuing its dialogue with EU institutions, Member States and stakeholders and to contributing its expertise to support effective and workable implementation across the European Union.
07/06/26